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Ron Johnson Dodges Voters, Refuses to Take Questions From the Media (6/17/10)

Posted June 16, 2010

Weak and Vulnerable Extremist Running Scared

MADISON — As multimillionaire, self-proclaimed Tea Party candidate and U.S. Senate candidate Ron Johnson doubled-down on his T.V. ad blitz this week – coming close to the $1 million mark – it appears he’s now taking direction from his GOP bosses in Washington — first canceling on a Tea Party citizens group seeking more information on Johnson’s positions on the issues, then refusing to answer questions from reporters.

“Johnson's courtship of tea party groups took another twist as he postponed question-and-answer sessions with two organizations this week after a skeptical reception from constitutional conservatives in Jefferson County…

Todd Welch, the [Campaign for Liberty] interim state coordinator, called Johnson's support of the Patriot Act and the national Real ID mandate "scary" and said he had hoped to question him about government invasion of privacy.”

The Journal Sentinel report went on to state that Tea Party activists were skeptical of Johnson’s decision to skip out on their previously agreed to meeting because Johnson “was able to attend a Republican Party office opening earlier Tuesday in the same part of the state.”

And according to a report by WQOW-TV in Eau Claire – where Johnson attended the office opening – he continued to avoid taking any questions:

"US Senate Candidate Ron Johnson was the guest speaker. He would not take questions from the media."

The media outlet Politico also published a report on the Wisconsin senate race this week noting: "Johnson’s campaign declined to make the candidate available for an interview."

The same week Johnson continued to duck voters and reporters, Republican Party Chair Reince Preibus was forced to admit at a luncheon with reporters that even though the party endorsed Johnson, he couldn’t answer questions about where Johnson stands on important issues, saying simply, "There's going to be plenty of time to ask all the questions of Ron Johnson. You'll get your answers."

“Ron Johnson is a weak and vulnerable candidate who is running scared from reporters and dodging voters because he can’t defend his extremism” said Mike Tate, Chairman of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin. “Voters deserve more than a bunch of empty slogans and a million dollars of TV ads about Apple Pie.”